http://business.inquirer.net/110535/ph-companies-stepping-up-manpower-training-efforts
Philippine Daily Inquirer Online
th
4 March 2013
OFWs from Libya: Philippine companies, like AG&P, looks to “pirating overseas Filipino workers as one of their
strategies in expanding their workforce. INQUIRER PHOTO/RODEL ROTONI
MANILA, Philippines—Companies operating in the country are stepping up efforts to train their workforce
in preparation for a dramatic rise in business activities that may be brought about by the anticipated
upgrade in the country’s credit rating.
This was according to the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), which groups
human resource leaders and practitioners belonging to 1,200 companies in the country, which said that
an increasing number of its member-firms were enhancing their skills training and other development
programs for employees.
PMAP president Grace Sorongon said the move was prompted by expectations that the Philippines might
obtain an investment grade this year, which would likely bring into the country more foreign direct
investments.
“More companies are giving skills development and training programs. We are investing in training so
they (workers) can do better and become more productive,” Sorongon said at the sidelines of the recent
general membership meeting of PMAP.
With the improvements in its macroeconomic fundamentals, the Philippines is now rated just a notch
below investment grade. Economists from the government and the private sector expect an investment
grade within the short term.
Sorongon said that given the continued deployment of Filipinos workers overseas, competition for the
remaining talents in the country became stiffer.
Based on estimates, there are more than 10 million Filipinos working overseas. However, Sorongon said
claims that the country was experiencing a brain drain might be an exaggeration.
“Although a significant number of skilled and professional Filipinos have gone abroad, there remains a
significant portion of the population with potentials that can be tapped,” she said.
“Many from the X and Y generations are still in the country. If trained, they have significant potential to
become future business leaders and to help increase the country’s productivity ,” she said.
Generation X is the group of people born in the ’60s and ’70s, while Generation Y Filipinos are those born
in the ’80s and early ’90s. People in these generations are believed to have the information technology
skills needed by firms to increase productivity .
In the meantime, some firms operating in the country have seen the prudence of recruiting Filipinos
currently working overseas.
Joseph Sigelman, chairman of AG&P, an international process outsourcing company headquartered in
the Philippines, said his company was planning to increase its workforce over the short term given the
favorable outlook on the Philippine economy.
In a briefing at the sidelines of PMAP’s meeting, Sigelman told reporters that one of AG&P’s strategies to
expand its workforce was to “pirate” OFWs.